SoutheastHEALTH Becomes First in Southeast Missouri to Offer Patients a New Heart Failure Monitoring Solution

May 21, 2015

SoutheastHEALTH is the first facility in Southeast Missouri to implant a new miniaturized, wireless monitoring sensor to manage heart failure (HF). The CardioMEMS HF System is the first and only FDA-approved heart failure monitoring device that has been proven to significantly reduce hospital admissions when used by physicians to manage heart failure.

The CardioMEMS HF System features a sensor that is implanted in the pulmonary artery (PA) during a non-surgical procedure to directly measure PA pressure. Increased PA pressures appear before weight and blood pressure changes, which are often used as indirect measures of worsening heart failure. The new system allows patients to transmit daily sensor readings from their homes to their cardiologist, allowing for personalized and proactive HF management.

“This innovative technology improves our ability to treat and positively impact outcomes for heart failure patients,” said Dr. Bryan Beck, Cardiologist, who will be inserting this monitoring device in our Heart Failure patients starting today. “This device provides us with the ability to detect worsening heart failure sooner and adjust treatment to reduce the likelihood that the patient will need to be hospitalized.”

Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s demands. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 5.1 million Americans have heart failure, with 670,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Patients with heart failure are frequently hospitalized, have a reduced quality of life and face a higher risk of death.

The CardioMEMS sensor is designed to last the lifetime of the patient and doesn’t require batteries. Once implanted, the wireless sensor sends pressure readings to an external patient electronic system. There is no pain or sensation for the patient during the readings. The CardioMEMS HF System allows the patients to transmit critical information about their heart failure status to a clinician on a regular basis, without the need for additional clinic or hospital visits. This provides clinicians with the ability to detect worsening heart failure sooner and adjust treatment to reduce the likelihood that the patient will need to be hospitalized.

“SoutheastHEALTH is committed to improving patient care and investing in innovative technology such as the CardioMEMS HF System,” said Ken Bateman, President and CEO. “This device empowers efficient and effective patient care through innovative solutions that deliver successful patient outcomes in the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure.”